E-Interface eNewsletter

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Threat Alert
Scammers Taking Advantage Of Japan Disaster

You're Invited To Our Annual Meeting

Two To View
A Couple Of Amazing Videos You Don't Want To Miss

This Month's FAQ
Which Is Correct: E-mail Or Email?

Sites Of The Month
Great Sites To Check Out In May

Short Tutorial
Setting Up A Signature For Your Emails

Hello West Central Internet Subscribers

Welcome to our May issue. Legend has it that May was named for Maia, the Roman goddess of spring. Her name is related to a Latin word that means growth. So in that spirit, we'll do our best to help you grow in your Internet knowledge. We begin with a warning about online scams related to the Japan disaster. Also included in this issue is the answer to the e-mail vs. email question and tutorials on setting up an email signature. Just for fun, check out the two videos sure to please animal lovers. Then get ready for the season with websites featuring information about disaster preparation, spring cleaning, gas prices, and more.

The goal of each of our eNewsletters is to keep our subscribers informed regarding their Internet connection and to improve their Internet experience. We think you'll find this information interesting.

To see what's inside this issue, simply scroll down the eNewsletter or click on the links within the index to the left. Thanks for reading!

- West Central Internet Services Team

Once again, cybercriminals are using natural disasters to try and trick Internet users into manmade scams. Following the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan, phony donation requests and dangerous links started turning up designed to exploit consumer interest and concern. If you fall for them, you could have your money and credit card information stolen, as well as your identity.

Be on alert for these types of threats:

Phony "donate" emails and websites —These spam emails may look like they are coming from a legitimate organization, such as the Red Cross and other relief groups, asking for donations to help victims of the disaster. They usually include a link that goes to a phony website that asks for your credit card details and other personal information. You may also stumble across these dangerous sites while doing an Internet search for information on the earthquake.
Malicious videos/images — Scammers are spreading malicious links to "dramatic" videos of the disaster. When you search for news on the earthquake or tsunami, you may end up clicking on a link that actually downloads malware onto your computer or takes you to a phishing site that asks for personal information.
Social media tricks — Cybercrooks are also posting donation requests and links to malware on social networking sites such as Facebook.

To avoid becoming a victim, never respond to a donation request that arrives via a spam email, text, or instant message, especially if the request sounds overly urgent. Also, be wary of any request posted to social media and of any links that promise "dramatic videos" or images related to the disaster, especially if it is a shortened URL and you can't see where the link is heading. (Remember that anyone can register an ".org" domain and having one doesn't indicate that the organization has a charitable status.)

If you'd like to donate to the earthquake and tsunami relief efforts in Japan, go to your browser and type in the website address of a well-established international relief organization.

The Annual Meeting of the Membership of West Central Telephone Association will be held on Monday, May 16th at 7 PM at Sebeka High School Auditorium. You're invited to attend this event and hear highlights of the past year as well as our plans for the future. Mark your calendars now and we hope to see you there!

There's an animal theme to this month's featured videos. We think they're the "purr-fect" way to add some fun to your day.



A young woman named Mel shows off her incredible talent for doing animal impressions—starting with a dog and cat and moving into more than a dozen others including an owl, wolf, peacock, horse, monkey, and parrot. Close your eyes and you'll think you're at the zoo! This charming video has received well over two million hits.		What could be cuter than cats playing pattycake? How about cats playing pattycake while "talking" to each other and trading barbs? Even if you're not particularly a cat lover, this playful video will make you smile. It's amazing how well these two cats master the movements.

Question: I've noticed that some people include a hyphen when spelling e-mail and others simply use email. Which is considered to be the correct format?

Answer: The e-mail vs. email debate was recently settled by the editors of the AP Stylebook—the de facto style and usage guide for much of the news media. They announced that email is now the preferred format since it reflects majority usage. This transition is indicative of the evolving nature of language. When "electronic mail" was first introduced, Internet technology required more explanation and a hyphen was used in e-mail to emphasize the concept of electronic.

Another example of the evolution of language is LOL. Today, LOL stands for "laugh out loud" but back in 1960, those letters stood for "little old lady." The Oxford English Dictionary officially added LOL as a word in March 2011, along with FYI (for your information). Why? So many of us are using these expressions in emails, on Facebook, etc., that they've become part of our language.

Is It Rogue Security Software?
lavasoft.com – To keep your computer safe from threats, you need to be aware of rogue security software, which falsely claims to protect your computer and can actually threaten computer security. The Rogue Gallery is a resource that keeps computer users safe from rogue security software by providing a comprehensive database of current rogue security applications. You can use this site to check for the latest threats, check for threats alphabetically, or submit possible rogue programs.

Disaster Preparation Tips
ready.gov – Any number of disasters—such as tornadoes, earthquakes, floods, and fires—can mean you'll need to survive on your own for a period of time. Disasters are, by nature, unexpected but there are steps you can take to prepare for them. This FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) site explains what to have in your emergency preparedness kit and how to create a Family Emergency Plan. There are also resources for keeping up to date on emergency situations and a special section to get kids involved to help them feel safe.

Household How-Tos
tipnut.com – Spring is a great time to work on special projects from crafts to cleaning to cooking. This helpful site features tips in all of these categories and more. Learn how to remove stubborn carpet stains, make a raised garden bed, get rid of flies, or cook a perfect sunny-side-up egg. When you find a tip you like, you can share it on Facebook or Twitter. You can also submit your own tips or sign up for a newsletter to receive tips via email.

Cheapest Gas
gasbuddy.com – Don't let high gas prices put the brakes on your road trip plans. Use this site's Trip Cost Calculator to determine the best places to fill up along the way. When you get back from your trip, visit the site to find the cheapest gas sources in your area. You can also check out the Gas Price Heat Map to see how prices in your area compare to those in other parts of the country.

Top Chefs' Recipes
cookstr.com – This site is similar to other cooking sites, but with a twist: You get to meet the chefs behind the recipes. So if you like the style of a certain chef, you can review his/her collection for similar dishes. The site includes Irish chefs, pastry chefs, sauce experts, and more. Search for a recipe to try or check out the bios of the featured chefs. And don't forget to sign up for The Cookstr 10, an eNewsletter that delivers 10 delicious recipes to your inbox each week.

A signature is a block of text placed at the bottom of your outgoing emails to "sign off" and close the messages. The primary purpose of a signature is to let people know who you are and how to contact you. Many people also take this opportunity to convey a bit of their personality through the use of a favorite quotation or a particular font.

What you include in your signature is up to you, and you may want to create a couple of signatures - such as one for business and one for personal use. To set up a signature, follow the steps below for your email program.

Setting Up a Signature for Your Emails When Using ...
Email Program: Windows Live Mail
Computer Operating System: Windows Vista and Windows 7

With Windows Live Mail open, click your cursor arrow on the down arrow to the right of the Ribbon, hover your cursor arrow over "Options" and select "Mail..." from the resulting drop-down menu.
When the Options window opens, select the "Signatures" tab.
In the "Signatures" section, click on the "New" button.
In the "Edit Signature" section, enter the personal signature that you would like to appear on future emails.
In the "Signature settings" section, check the box next to "Add signatures to all outgoing messages" so that your signature automatically appears in new emails.
Once you have entered your signature and checked the box, click on the "Apply" button and then click "OK" to accept the signature and close the Options window.

Setting Up a Signature for Your Emails When Using ...
Email Program: Windows Live Mail
Computer Operating System: Windows XP

With Windows Live Mail open, in the upper right corner of the screen, click your cursor arrow on the "Menus" button and select "Options..." from the resulting drop-down menu.
When the Options window opens, select the "Signatures" tab.
In the "Signatures" section, click on the "New" button.
In the "Edit Signature" section, enter the personal signature that you would like to appear on future emails.
In the "Signature settings" section, check the box next to "Add signatures to all outgoing messages" so that your signature automatically appears in new emails.
Once you have entered your signature and checked the box, click on the "Apply" button and then click "OK" to accept the signature and close the Options window.

Setting Up a Signature for Your Emails When Using ...
Email Program: Mozilla Thunderbird 3.19
Computer Operating System: Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Mac OS X 10.6

With Mozilla Thunderbird open, click on "Tools" from the menu bar and select "Account Settings..." from the resulting drop-down menu. The Account Settings window will open.
On the left side of the Account Settings window, click on your email address.
On the right side of the Account Settings window, look for a large field titled "Signature text." Type the signature you would like to use for this account into the field.
Click on the "OK" button to accept the signature and close the Account Settings window.

Setting Up a Signature for Your Emails When Using ...
Email Program: Mail.app 3.6
Computer Operating System: Mac OS X 10.6

With Mail.app open, click your cursor arrow on the "Mail" menu and select "Preferences" from the resulting drop-down menu.
When the Preferences window opens, click on the "Signatures" icon.
You will now see three panes. The first pane has a list of your accounts. Click on the account that you want to create a signature for. It will now be highlighted.
Under the middle pane, you will see two buttons—one with a plus (+) sign, the other with a minus (-) sign. Click on the plus sign. A signature with the name "Signature #1" will appear in the middle pane. In the third pane, you will see the default signature that Mail has created for this account.
If you would like to change the default signature, click on any part of it and enter your own text.
To get the font of your signature to match the default font in your message, check the box next to "Always match my default message font."
Click on the "Choose Signature:" button and select "In Sequential Order" to get your new signature to show up automatically when you create a new email message.
If you would like to have the signature appear above quoted text when you reply to a message, check the box next to "Place signature above quoted text."
When you have the signature settings the way you want them, click on the red button in the upper left corner of the Preferences window.

We hope you found this newsletter to be informative. It's our way of keeping you posted on the happenings here. If, however, you'd prefer not to receive these bulletins, click here.

Thanks for your business!

Best regards

The WCTA Communications Team
Internet Specialists

WCTA Sebeka
308 Frontage Road Box 304
Sebeka, MN 56477

1-218-837-5151 or toll free at 1-800-945-2163

©2011 Cornerstone Publishing Group Inc.

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